The Golden State Warriors claimed the 2017 National Basketball Association (NBA) championship at the Oracle Arena Monday by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers, 129-120, in Game 5 of their best-of-seven finals series.
From a 5-point lead at the end of the third quarter, the Warriors stepped up their game to stay ahead by 11 with a minute left in the game en route to a 4-1 victory over the Cavaliers in the finals that also avenge their defeat in last year’s final from the same team.
Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry led Golden State with 39 and 34 points, respectively. Durant was named the finals’ MVP. Andre Iguodala added 20 points, Klay Thompson, 11 and Draymond Green, 10.
LeBron James led Cleveland with 41 points and 13 rebounds with Kyrie Irving and J.R. Smith adding 26 and 25 points, respectively.
Cleveland led in the first quarter, 37-33. Golden State regained the lead at the end of the first half, 71-60. The Warriors hanged on to a five-point lead at the end of the third quarter, 98-93, before pouring their last 31 points against only 27 by the Cavaliers in the last quarter.
In the 2016 NBA Finals, Cleveland beat Golden State in Game 7, 93-89, to win the best-of-seven championship series, 4-3.
credit: Time
